A Newcastle University professor who died this week was a "medical hero" who spent decades "at the forefront of innovation, development, and leadership in the public health sector".
Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, an Emeritus Professor at Newcastle University who was the founding chair of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), died aged 81 in Darlington on New Year's Day. Over a lengthy career in pharmacology he was a champion for patient safety and ensured patient voice was at the heart of decision-making.
In addition to leading NICE for 12 years, he also chaired the board of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for six years to 2020, and was president of the Royal Society of Medicine for two years.
He retained connections to Newcastle University throughout his career - having first been appointed to a professorship at the university in 1973. He was a member of the university's council and four years ago opened its school of pharmacy. During the 1980s he also had a role advising what was then the Newcastle District Health Authority.
Since his death, figures include the Vice-Chancellor of Newcastle University Professor Chris Day and the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham have paid tribute to Sir Michael.
Professor Day said: “It is with great sadness that I, and my colleagues, heard the news that Professor Sir Mike Rawlins has passed away. He was a much-respected colleague and a friend for many of us over the years. Having first worked with him in 1986, I highly valued his wise counsel on numerous occasions over the subsequent 36 years. He will be greatly missed.
“First appointed in 1973 to Newcastle University as Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, he retained strong connections with the University throughout his long and distinguished career."
Dr June Raine, chief executive of the MHRA, added that Sir Michael was one of the UK's "most eminent pharmacologists" and said: "From a lifetime of dedication and service to public health, Sir Michael was a stalwart champion of regulation, bringing immense experience and expertise, and guiding our Agency through a period of huge change, challenge, and transformation."
She added: "As well as his outstanding academic and scientific achievements, Sir Michael will be remembered for ensuring that the patient voice is heard throughout regulation."
And Professor Roger Kirby, current President of the Royal Society of Medicine, continued the tributes, saying: "A medical hero, amazing academic and fantastic character, his loss will be deeply felt throughout the medical and scientific communities he served during his distinguished career."
Mr Burnham, who formerly served as Health Secretary during the last Labour government, also tweeted his condolences, saying: "I loved working with Michael. Had that very rare quality of being able to defuse vexed discussions with warmth and humour."
Sir Michael was first knighted in 1999, for his services "to the improvement of patient protection from the side effects of medicines". Then in 2017 he was given the remarkable honour of being appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire for services to the safety of medicines, healthcare and innovation.
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